BenQ EX3501R Review: 3440×1440 100Hz FreeSync HDR UltraWide Curved Gaming Monitor

The BenQ EX3501R is a unique ultra-wide curved gaming monitor that brings exclusives features such as the Brightness Intelligence Plus technology, entry-level HDR support, and USB-C to the already enticing set of specs such as the 3440×1440 resolution and AMD FreeSync up to 100Hz.

Image Quality

Based on a VA panel by AU Optronics, the BenQ EX3501R monitor delivers a higher static contrast ratio than the alternative panel technologies such as IPS and TN.

Thanks to its 2,500:1 contrast ratio, the monitor offers deep and distinct black tones as well as a more notable relation between the darkest and the brightest colors.

Apart from that, the monitor covers 100% of the sRGB color space and supports true 8-bit color depth.

While the display offers 178-degree viewing angles in all directions, minor shifts in contrast and brightness are expected when the screen is viewed from certain off-angles.

The giant 35-inch screen is perfectly complemented by the UWQHD resolution making for a rich pixel density of 106 pixels per inch.

This means that the picture will have plenty of screen real estate as well as maximum details without any scaling required.

Performance

When it comes to gaming, a 100Hz refresh rate offers a remarkably more fluent and responsive feel to gaming in comparison to the standard 60Hz displays.

Alas, some ghosting and motion blur of fast-moving objects will be apparent, especially in darker scenes. At higher frame rates, though, the ghosting will be less visible.

The BenQ EX3501R input lag performance is very good with ~7ms of delay at 100Hz, so there won’t be any perceptible delays between your commands and the result on the screen.

Be sure to check whether your favorite games support 21:9, or else you will have black borders at the sides of the picture or a stretched image in certain video games.

Overall, the BenQ EX3501R performance is top-notch, but the monitor is more suited for those who prefer better graphics and visuals than competitive gameplay.

Features

Along with the common adjustments and features such as brightness/contrast, gamma, color settings, etc., as well as the Picture in Picture and Picture by Picture modes, the BenQ EX3501R has a lot more tricks up its sleeve.

The Brightness Intelligence Plus technology features a built-in sensor that automatically adjusts brightness and color temperature according to the on-screen content and ambient lighting.

The sensor has several sensitivity levels and customizable settings. For instance, you can adjust it to lower the screen’s brightness as you work gradually.

In addition to the flicker-free screen and the low blue light filter, the BenQ EX3501R VA monitor effectively prevents eye fatigue and headaches if you are sensitive to screen flickering.

In the OSD (On-Screen Display) menu, there are several pre-calibrated picture presets as well as three customizable Gamer profiles.

The presets include Photo, Standard, two regular custom profiles, M-Book, and HDR. Lastly, the Cinema mode offers native video formats (24p, 25p, and 30p) for a judder-free movie watching experience.

FreeSync & HDR

If you have an AMD FreeSync compatible graphics card, you can entirely eliminate screen tearing and stuttering by synchronizing the refresh rate of the monitor to GPU’s frame rate.

The BenQ EX3501R FreeSync range amounts to 48-100Hz over both DisplayPort and HDMI.

Even if your FPS (Frames Per Second) drops below 48, the LFC (Low Framerate Compensation) technology kicks in to save the day by multiplying the frames (47FPS -> 94Hz) for smoother performance.

FreeSync also works when using a compatible NVIDIA G-SYNC graphics card.

Some EX3501R units, however, display tearing/flickering at 100FPS (solved by capping the frame rate to 1-2 frames below 100) and flickering below ~48FPS when LFC is triggered which can be (depending on your particular model) alleviated by increasing the VRR range via CRU.

While the BenQ EX3501R does claim HDR (High Dynamic Range) support, compatible content will only slightly be improved due to the lack of display capabilities needed for a notable enhancement in image quality for HDR content.

With a mere 300-nit peak brightness and only the standard sRGB color gamut, the HDR support is software-enabled, thus offering a barely visible upgrade in comparison to what a more capable HDR display can actually do.

Design & Connectivity

The design of the BenQ EX3501R consists of thin bezels at the sides and top, which nicely complements the edge-to-edge display.

Ergonomics include up to 60mm of height adjustment and -5°/20° tilt, while the 1800R screen curvature further immerses you into the gaming world.

Connectivity includes two HDMI 2.0 ports, DisplayPort 1.4, two USB 3.1 ports, a USB type C port and a headphone jack.

The USB-C port, however, doesn’t support PD (Power Delivery) for laptops; it can be used as the DisplayPort Alt mode or as the upstream USB port.

When the USB-C port is used as the alternate display mode, the USB hub is limited to the USB 2.0 bandwidth (480Mb/s) – if it’s used as the upstream port, the USB hub offers up to 5 Gb/s bandwidth.

Price & Similar Monitors

The BenQ EX3501R price is around $550.

For 100$ less, you can get the AOC CU34G2X, which is a 3440×1440 144Hz ultrawide gaming monitor with a curved VA panel and broader color gamut – or the Gigabyte M34WQ with a 34″ 3440×1440 144Hz flat-screen IPS panel.

You can also get the Philips 346E2CUAE, which is a 3440×1440 100Hz ultrawide VA monitor with USB-C that supports both DP Alt Mode and 65W Power Delivery under $500.

Visit our always-up-to-date ultrawide monitor buyer’s guide for more information and the best deals available.

Conclusion

Overall, the BenQ EX3501R is a great ultrawide monitor for gaming and other multimedia, but there are more cost-effective options available.

Screen Size	35-inch
Screen Curvature	1800R
Resolution	3440×1440 (UWQHD)
Panel Type	VA
Aspect Ratio	21:9 (UltraWide)
Refresh Rate	100Hz
Response Time	4ms (GtG)
Adaptive Sync	FreeSync (48Hz-100Hz)
Ports	DisplayPort 1.4, 2x HDMI 2.0
Other Ports	2x USB 3.1, USB-C, Headphone Jack
Brightness	300 cd/m2
Contrast Ratio	2500:1 (static)
Colors	16.7 million (true 8-bit)
HDR10	Software-enabled only